Automatic liquid container



May 30, 1950 D, B, TQLLEY 2,509,375

AUTOMATIC L IQUID CONTAINER Filed May 18, 1949 INVENTOR. pa/mzafl 72.4452,

Patented May 30, 1950 AUTOMATIC LIQUID CONTAIN ER Donald B. Tolley, Macomb, Ill., assignor to Globe American Corporation, Kokomo, Ind., a corporation Application May 18, 1949, SerialNo. 94,009 1 Claim. (01. 137- 68) This invention relates to a liquid container so arranged that the liquid therein will be automatically maintained at a predetermined level. While it is particularly applicable for use as a waterer or drinking fount for chicks, fowls, and the like, it is also applicable to other uses wherein it is desired that a predetermined liquid level be automatically maintained.

The object of the invention is to provide such a container which may be conveniently and removably supported by a fixed liquid supply pipe having its outlet discharging into the container, and controlled by a valve which in turn is controlled by the weight of a predetermined quantity of liquid.

This invention contemplates the provision of a plunger type valve mounted in a valve housing to be secured to the downwardly projecting end of a fixed liquid supply pipe, and a readily detachable spring support for yieldingly maintaining the container against the valve stem to press it upwardly into open position, while permitting the container to move downwardly under the weight of a predetermined quantity of liquid sufficiently to permit the valve to close.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claim:

Fig, 1 is a perspective view of the container mounted on a depending liquid supply pipe.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrative of the operating parts of the liquid control valve and container with parts removed and parts in section, showing the container raised to valve opening position in full lines and depressed to valve closing position in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the container with a portion of its side broken away to show its mounting on the liquid supply pipe.

In the drawings there is shown a liquid container having side walls I!) and a bottom portion H adapted to be removably secured to a fixed depending liquid supply pipe l2. Threaded or coupled to the lower discharge end of the supply pipe !2 there is a valve housing l3 having a reduced orifice I 4 above which there is provided a suitable screen l5. The lower end of. the orifice is threaded at IE to receive the threaded body 11 of a pressure valve such as the well known Schrader type of air valve used on pneumatic tires. Said valve has a depending stem 13 and is so constructed that when the stem is in its normal extended position, as shown in dotted lines, the valve is closed, but when pressed inwardly or upwardly to the position shown in full lines the valve is open.

By means of such valve arrangement, it will be observed that the valve will be normally closed to shut off flow of liquid from the pipe l2 as when its valve stem is free of engagement by the container, or the container is lowered to valve closing position. However, upon its upward displacement by the container, the valve will open and permit a flow of liquid downwardly from the pipe l2 through the orifice M.

For receiving the flow of liquid when the valve is displaced to open position, the liquid container is directly suspended from the fixed pipe I2. For that purpose, the bottom I! of the container has secured thereto an upwardly extending guide cage or member I!) adapted to embrace and center the valve housing l3 when mounted thereover. The upper end of the guide cage is provided with a lateral flange or projection 20 at its upper end for receiving a spring retaining clip 2|. Said clip is formed with a head. portion 22 and downwardly extending opposed spring arms provided adjacent their lower ends with the interlocking folds 23. Said folds are adapted. to interlock with the flange 26 on the cage l9 under spring tension, being released therefrom when sprung to the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 2 upon manually pressing toward each other the upwardly extending releasing handles 24.

Interposed between the upper end of the valve housing l3 and the head portion 22 of the spring retaining clip there is provided a compression spring 25 which surrounds the pipe 12. Said spring, therefore, supports the container on the pipe l2 through the retaining clip and cage H], but upon the container receiving a supply of liquid the spring will yield to permit 1owering thereof until the valve stem i8 is released suiiiciently to close the liquid supply therethrough.

The dimension of the supporting elements of the container in relation to the weight thereof and the tension of the spring 25 is such that the valve stem 18 will be engaged by the bottom of the container and raised to its open position to permit the free flow of liquid thereto until the liquid has reached a predetermined level. Thereupon the weight of such quantity of liquid will compress the spring sufi'iciently for the container to move downwardly to release the stem ill of the valve and cause it to close. The liquid supply will then be shut oiT until such time as the level of the liquid or the weight thereof drops sufliciently to permit the spring to raise the container against the valve stem for permitting discharge of additional liquid sufliciently to again cause the valve to close.

retaining clip arms until they interlock there-r with, whereupon the container will have forced the valve stem upwardly permitting discharge of liquid thereto.

The invention claimed is: In combination with a fixed vertically depend ing liquid supply pipe, a valvehousin secured mounted on said pipe having downwardly extending members releasably engageable with said guide cage, and a compression spring surrounding said pipe seated on said valve housing and directing pressure upward against said retaining clip :for: eyieldingly supporting said retaining clip,

guide oagejrand container on said pipe with said container normally engaging said valve stem for holding it in valve opening position, said spring being compressible under weight of liquid received in said'container to lower it for releasing --said v-alve stem: and permitting said valve to close.

to the lower end of said pipe;"alnorm'ally closed valve in said housing having a downwardlyexw tending stem arranged to open said valve when pressed upwardlyr a liquidl container having a centrally and upwardly extending guide cage se- 20 curedethereto in 1 embracing relation with said '-valve housing, a spring rretaininglcliplslidably Number DONALD B. TOLLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file 'of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name" Date 7 2,107,573 Langdon Feb. 8, 193a 

